For Jonesboro boy, happiness is a pair of new roller blades

Rusten Counce, 7, persuaded his grandma, Sandra Mathews to drive him 200 miles round trip every day of the week of July 13-17 so he could learn to skate. Then he asked her to do the same thing the next week.

Mathews and Counce made the trip from Jonesboro, Ark. to Hernando, Miss. from Monday through Friday of the first week so that Counce could participate in the free “learn-to-skate” clinic hosted by Mississippi RiverKings hockey captain Derek Landmesser and the Jr. StreetKings recreational roller hockey league.

“He really did not know how to skate until a week ago when he came to the free camp,” Mathews said Wednesday, July 22. “I am so impressed. He had such a good time we decided to come back this week. He just loves it.”

“I’m just amazed,” Mathews said. “The first day they kind of had to help him. We didn’t have any of the equipment, but they told us to come on, that they had everything here. After Day One we went out and bought him his own things. This week he’s skating great and playing goalie.”

Counce and his father attend all the RiverKings games, Mathews said. And she has trouble telling little Rusten no.

“He’s my life,” she said. “He likes all sports, but he really wanted to try hockey and there’s no place close that has it where we live. He is loving it.”

Landmesser led the camp every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the roller hockey rink, located at the Hernando Civic Center. The covered rink, situated in a tree-lined corner to one side of baseball and soccer fields, was nice and cool, a welcome relief for the youngsters.

In addition to hockey drills, dry land training and scrimmages, Landmesser also led the campers in activities including pickup baseball and a “Slip ‘N Slide” waterslide.

“We want them to increase their hockey skills, but most of all, we want them to have fun,” Landmesser said. “They are kids first, and our aim is for them to really enjoy themselves and make friends while learning the game.”

The rink was built primarily with funds and grants from Maddox Foundation, a private, independent grantor and parent company to the RiverKings hockey team. The Foundation has also made donations for improvements to the whole civic center park area.

“I’ve never been involved with a community partner who has been so consistent in their patronage and sponsorship of local youth sports as Maddox Foundation has been in their commitment to the kids,” facilities manager for Hernando Youth Sports Danny Phillips said. “It’s been that way since they first arrived and built the rink here.”

“The Jr. StreetKings roller hockey program and youth sports are important because they give kids activities to do after school and in the summer,” Landmesser said. “Kids learn so many things playing team sports. Of course I think hockey is the best sport in the world. All team sports are good though, because they are a lot of fun and help build character.”

To sign up or for more information about the Jr. StreetKings roller hockey league fall season, contact Landmesser at 901-870-7825 or jrstreetkings@yahoo.com, or visit www.jrstreetkings.com.  For information about the Mississippi RiverKings hockey team and the upcoming professional hockey season, go to www.riverkings.com or call 662-342-1755.